SNAP Work Rules Now Reach Adults Up to Age 64: What Older Americans Need to Know

For decades, Americans in their late 50s and early 60s who relied on SNAP, the food assistance program many people still call food stamps, did not have to worry about the program’s strict work time limit. That rule applied only to adults between 18 and 54. Once you turned 55, you were outside it.

That has changed. The federal budget law signed on July 4, 2025, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, raised the upper age for SNAP’s work rules for “able-bodied adults without dependents” from 54 to 64. Millions of older adults who were never subject to the time limit before can now lose benefits if they do not meet the work requirement or qualify for an exemption.

The changes are still rolling out. On November 10, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to write the law’s work requirement changes into SNAP regulations. Here is what the rules say, who is affected, who is exempt, and what older Americans can do now.

What the Work Rule Requires

SNAP’s time limit applies to a group the program calls ABAWDs, short for able-bodied adults without dependents. People in this group can receive SNAP benefits for only three months in a 36-month period unless they meet a work requirement.

To keep benefits beyond those three months, a person generally must work, volunteer, or take part in a qualifying work or training program for at least 80 hours a month. That works out to about 20 hours a week. Some combination of these activities can count toward the total.

If a person loses benefits under the time limit, they can usually regain eligibility by meeting the 80-hour requirement. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services explains that in its state, meeting the requirement in any 30-day period can restore eligibility.

What Changed Under the 2025 Law

The biggest change is the age range. According to the National Association of Counties, the law expanded the ABAWD definition from adults ages 18 to 54 to adults ages 18 to 64. That brings adults in their late 50s and early 60s under the time limit for the first time.

The law also narrowed the exemption for people who live with children. Before, adults in a household with a child under 18 were generally not considered ABAWDs. Now, the exemption covers households with a child under 14. Adults whose youngest child is 14 or older may now face the work rule.

The law also removed several group exemptions that Congress had added in 2023. Those covered veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults who had aged out of foster care. People in these groups can still be exempt if they meet another exemption, such as a disability or a medical condition.

Who Is Still Exempt

Many people remain exempt from the time limit. Exemptions vary somewhat in how states screen for them, but common ones include people who are pregnant, people who are physically or mentally unable to work, and adults who live with a child under 14.

North Carolina, for example, lists exemptions for people receiving disability benefits from any source, including Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance, VA disability, and workers’ compensation. It also lists people caring for a child under 6 or an incapacitated person. Under long-standing SNAP rules, people already working at least 30 hours a week are also exempt from the general work rules.

North Carolina also describes an exemption for adults ages 55 to 64 who face several barriers at once, such as no high school diploma, no recent work history, and health problems. Rules like this can differ by state, so it is important to check with your local SNAP office.

Fewer Waivers for High-Unemployment Areas

In the past, states could ask for waivers that suspended the time limit in areas with high unemployment or too few jobs. Many states used these waivers in struggling rural counties and cities.

The 2025 law tightened that option. According to the National Association of Counties, waivers are now available only in areas where unemployment is above 10 percent, with special exceptions for Alaska and Hawaii. Since most areas have unemployment far below 10 percent, far fewer places qualify.

That means more people are subject to the time limit even if they live in areas where jobs are hard to find. Older adults in rural areas may be especially affected.

When the Changes Took Effect

The USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service told states in guidance dated October 3, 2025, that the work requirement changes took effect when the law was enacted. States then had to notify households and begin applying the new rules. Some states set their own start dates. North Carolina, for example, lists December 1, 2025, as its effective date.

The proposed rule published on November 10, 2026, would update federal SNAP regulations to match the law. The Federal Register notice lays out the proposed changes, and the public can weigh in before the rule is finalized.

Why This Matters for Older Americans

Many adults in their late 50s and early 60s face real challenges in the job market. Some have health problems that make full-time work difficult but do not qualify them for disability benefits. Others are caring for aging parents or grandchildren, or live in areas with few jobs.

For these adults, losing SNAP can mean less money for groceries at a time when food prices are already high. Many older adults on fixed or limited incomes rely on SNAP to stretch their budgets. The change comes as many households are already dealing with grocery bills that still feel high.

Supporters of the law argue that work requirements encourage employment and save taxpayer money. Critics say the rules mostly cut benefits for people who face real barriers to work. That debate is likely to continue as the proposed rule moves forward.

What Older SNAP Recipients Can Do Now

If you are between 55 and 64 and receive SNAP, it is important to understand where you stand. Read any notice your state SNAP office sends you carefully. These notices explain whether you are considered subject to the time limit and what you need to do.

If you have a health condition, disability, or caregiving responsibilities, ask your caseworker whether you qualify for an exemption. You may need a doctor’s statement or other paperwork. Keep records of any work, volunteer hours, or training programs you take part in.

If you are not working enough hours, ask about SNAP Employment and Training programs in your area. These programs can count toward the 80-hour requirement and may help you find a job. Community food banks can also help if you lose benefits. Smart shopping habits, like those in many wallet-friendly life hacks, can help stretch a tight food budget too.

The Bottom Line

The age expansion is one of the biggest changes to SNAP’s work rules in years. Adults ages 55 to 64 who once had no time limit now need to work, volunteer, or train at least 80 hours a month, or qualify for an exemption, to keep benefits beyond three months.

Do you think SNAP work requirements should apply to adults in their late 50s and early 60s? Many readers have strong feelings about whether the change is fair.